Bulk Herbs: Clay, White Kaolin Kaolinite, Silicate of Aluminum Format: Clay PowderSize: 1 oz package Also known as: Kaolin, china clay, kaolin clay. Origin: England White Kaolin Clay is a white, porous clay in powder form. Kaolinite is a layered silicate made of alternating sheets of octahedrally coordinated aluminum and tetrahedrally coordinated silicon, with hydroxyl groups that bond. Kaolinite is represented by the chemical formula Al2Si2O5(OH)4, and it most often occurs as clay-sized, plate-like, hexagonal crystals. From Gaolin in the Jiangxi province of China, a consistent source of this mineral clay was mined, and so the name kaolin was derived. Kaolinite was first described as a mineral species in the mid-1800s. It is widely used in a variety of processes and added to everyday items. You will find kaolinite in ceramics, in cosmetics, as a food additive, in toothpastes, as a diffusing coating of glass items- including lightbulbs. Used in papermaking, Kaolin clay is added to paper pulp and surface coatings where it improves body, color, opacity, and printability. Kaolin is an important ingredient in inks, organic plastics, some cosmetics, and many other products where its very fine particle size, whiteness, chemical inertness, and absorption properties give it particular value. It is the requisite ingredient in porcelain. It has long been used in natural, organic farming to prevent certain pests from feeding on crops. Assisting with their digestion and providing much-needed minerals, it is sought out by certain parrots of tropical South America, who include it as part of their regular diet. Kaolin has been mined in France, England, Germany, the Czech Republic, and the United States, where the most well-known deposits are located in the southeastern states. Kaolin is one of Georgia's largest natural resources, with 8 million metric tons mined there every year. This white powder is insoluble and has excellent absorbent qualities. These qualities in the clay draw out toxins and impurities, thereby clearing the skin of excess oil, pollutants, and other undesirable residues. White Kaolin Clay is the mildest of all clays. For educational purposes only. The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated this information. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease
